December's Cold Winter, Ablaze All Shrines
When I think of Costa Rica, I think of sun, beaches, small bikinis — you know, your typical 1000 foot view. What I never expected churning behind those palm trees and all-inclusive hotels would be the bludgeoning, yet melodic brand of pummeling death metal of December’s Cold Winter. The band’s second full length since erupting on the country’s scene in 2000, Ablaze All Shrines, is an unrelenting, juggernaut of an album.
Combining the sheer destruction of your straight forward, no nonsense death metal with a flourish of melodic elements splattered like brain matter across each track, the band are set to rule Costa Rica’s death metal kingdom with an iron, spike studded fist. I’ve listened to this album several times and it’s groove, catchiness and brutality leave me twitching for more each and every damned time.
Mixed with a clean, technical production, the band extends each song to decent lengths, regularly reaching the 5 minute mark. What’s surprising about this, however, is that December’s Cold Winter do a pretty damned good job at not allowing those longer tracks meander and bore, instead keeping the flow varied and entertaining to the end.
Envenomed Cult
The opening track starts off with a brief sound clip before erupting with huge layered screams at the 30 second mark. The pace right out of the gate is like a thoroughbred on meth, chugging manically to some unknown destination. For the most part the vocals are guttural and deep, with the occasional higher end scream thrown in for good measure. There’s some evil melodies flowing through out the rapid rhythm blasts and churning riffs.
Your Sordid Pride
After that seven minute opening track, the group slows it down a bit with guitars that have a somewhat melancholy sound while still maintaining a nice flow and melody. The vocals start out with higher end screams for the first few lines before deeper, more guttural growls come in to accompany them. The layered growls really add a nice depth and dynamic to the band’s sound along with the varied tempo shifts that are smooth and effortless. The guitars at 3:30 are pretty damned sweet.
Ablaze All Shrines
The title track starts off with another brief sound clip for the first 16 seconds or so, before chugging riffs and rapid fire drums come in smoothly. Guttural growls get us started off as higher end screams come in as support. This track has a bit more aggression to it, but still maintains a solid grasp on the album’s melodic influences. The 1:45 mark sees some increase drumming madness and sweet, melodic riffing. Throughout this seven plus minute track, you’ll feel the effect of the band’s full arsenal — chugging rhythms, manic blasts and slick guitar work.
Black Garden’s Sculptures
Amongst the lighter guitars sound that gets “Black Garden’s Sculptures” aggressive, layered vocals attack with a fervor. The drum work is pretty impressive on this song — at one time maintaining a groove and then the next unleashing unholy hell on your skull with manic blasts. Overall, the song is pretty damned catchy.
Manipulating Human Emotions
Chugging riffs get this next one off to a bit of a darker start with slower, guttural vocal work. The track really gets going just before the one minute mark with frenzied riffing and increased rhythm. There’s a great deal of anger and aggression within this track that’s only slightly tempered by subtle melodies here and there. I’m digging the slow down around the two minute mark. The layered riffing just before the three minute point on the track has some real depth to it.
Kings Of Lie
“Kings of Lie” starts with high energy, melodic riffing and pummeling drum work before settling into a galloping groove. The pace slows a bit to a dark, churning monolithic feel around the one minute mark. These guys really have the layered screams/growls down to a science, never overdoing it and adding them in at all the right moments. Man, these guys let loose with a fury around the two minute mark with aggressive rhythms and growls. This one is a death metal epic in terms of it’s overall sound and feel, not to mention almost hitting the 10 minute mark.
Consequences
The final track on the album closes out the stellar disc with acoustic guitars and light drum work. The five minute instrumental track picks up the pace just after the three minute mark with some decent riffing and mid-tempo drums. Not a bad way to end out the album.
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After all is said and done, if the rest of the Costa Rican metal underground sounds half as good as December’s Cold Winter, then be ready for a new wave of death metal from this country. Ablaze All Shrines is a great example of the hidden talent in smaller market countries that fly under the global metal radar — brutal riffing, melodic leads and pummeling rhythms all come together to take on some of the world’s metal superpowers.
Favorite Tracks:
All of them
Additional Notes:
N/A